Earth digging scoop



Feb. 2, 19630 H'. TUKER 2,923,074l

' v ,EARTH mesma scoop Filed sept. 27, 195e; 4s sheets-sheen 1 Fb. 2, 1960 w. H. TUCKER v 2,923,074

' EARTH DIGGING scoop Filed Sept. 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Af/a/weyf.

j 2,923,074 EARTH DIGGI'NG scoor William H. Tucker, Marion,.Kans., assignor .to Tumaco Equipment, Marion, Kans., a copartnership consisting of said William H. Tucker and Charles R. Magee, both of Marion, Kans.

ApplicationLSeptember 27, 1956, Serial No. 612,452

4 Claims. (C1. 37-1z9) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in earth digging scoops, and relates particularly to the means for positioning the bucket of such a scoop selectively either in an operative or digging position, or ina dumping position.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a scoop of the character described wherein the bucket moves from its digging or load-carryingposition to its dumping positiongand returns to its digging position, by the force of gravity alone, without necessity of power means for moving the same. Generally, this object is accomplished by mounting the bucket for free pivotal movement between its digging and dumping positions, counter-balancing it so that when empty it is urged pivotally toward its digging position and so that when loaded it is urged by the weight of the loadtoward nit-,65H6 Pt' its dumping position, rand providing latching means for securing said bucket selectively in either of its two positions.

lOther objects are simplicity and economy of construction, eiciency and dependability of operation, the provision of an-,unusually high lift of the bucket above the ground for easy Itransportation of the bucket over rough ground, and adaptability of the buckety to serve also as a ground levelling or planing device.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course ofthe specification, reference will be had to the drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational View of an earth digging scoop embodying the present invention, with portions broken away, l Y j Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe scoopV as shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken online II-Ill of Fig. l,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary Asectional view taken online IV-IVof Fig. 2, showing the bucket in its digging position,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the bucket in its load-transporting position in solid lines, and in its dumping position in dotted lines, and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the bucket in its ground levelling or planing position. l

Like reference-numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies generally to a frame comprising a forward section 4 and a rearward section 6. Forward frame section 4- comprises a pair of parallel tubular side members Sand 10 disposed parallel to the direction of travel of the scoop and connected rigidly together by a transverse member 12 (Fig. 2). A forwardly extending tongue 14 has its rearward end fixed to the midpoint of member 12, vandthe portions of members 8 and 10 disposed forwardly of member 12 are angled inwardly and affixed to tongue 14 intermediate the ends thereof. Secured to the forward end of tongue 14 is a hitch member 16 by means of which the scoop may be attached to a'tractor, not shown. The details of the hitch are not pertinent to the present invention, butl should be of a type permitting a degreeof axial oscillation of the tongue, as well as universal pivotal movement thereof.

Rearward frame section 6 is substantially H-shaped, comprising a pair of parallel side members 13 and 20 which form extensions respectively of forward frame members S and 1t), and a transverse member 22 rigidly connecting said side members intermediate their ends. 'Ihe forward ends of side members 18 and 20 are pivoted respectively to the rearward ends of forward frame membersS and 10 by means of pivot pins 24, members 8 and 10 being provided with bearings 26 journalled on said pins, and members 1S and 20 being provided with bearings 28 journalled on said pins (see Fig. 3). Said pins are coaxial, their axes lying in a horizontal line transverse to the direction of travel of the scoop. Each of frame members `18 and 20 carries at its rearward end a rigid stub axle 3i) on which is journalled a groundengaging wheel 32, said wheels being coaxial on an axis parallel to pivot pins 24. Mounted pivotally on pivot pins 24 is a bucket 34, said bucket having a generally semi-cylindrical rear wall 36, a forwardly extended bottom wall 38 to the forward edge of which is xed a blade 40, and parallel side walls 42 to each of which is fixed a bearing member 44, said bearing members being journalled respectively on the two pivot pins 24. A heavy barY 46 `is xed to the outer surface of the rear wall of the bucket, for a purpose to be fully described herein.

Each ofy rearward frame members 18 and 20 is provided wi'th -a superstructure in the vertical plane thereof, said superstructure comprising a vertical upright 48 secured to the frame member just behind pivot 24, and an oblique member 5) secured at its lower end to the frame member just forwardly of axle 30, and secured adjacent its upper end to the upper end of upright 48. Adjacent their upper ends, members 50 are rigidly interconnected by a cross bar 52 which is parallel to the axis of the bucket. A piston rod 54 is pivoted at 56 to the pair of forwardly extending arms at the forward end upper end of member 50.' Said piston rod is affixed to a piston 58 operable in a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 60, said cylinder being pivoted at 62 in a bracket 64 axed to the associated forward frame member 8 o r 10. The two hydraulic cylinders are connected by suitable pipes and hoses 66 to a hydraulic pump 68 mounted on a standard 79 aixed to the forward portion of tongue 14. Also axed to standard 70 is a forwardly extending arm 72 to which is pivoted a control lever 74 which is connected by a link 76 to the control arm 78 of pump 68. While the details of the hydraulic system are not shown, they are common and well-known in the art, it being understood that by manipulation of lever 74, which is positioned conveniently to the operator of the tractor to which the scoop is attached, pump control arm 78 may be positioned selectively to cause the pump to deliver fluid either to the lower ends of cylinders 6d, whereby piston rods 54 are extended, or to the upper ends of said cylinders whereby the piston rods are retracted, or to neutralize pressure in both ends of the cylinders whereby the piston rods are held positively in any desired position. The pump is driven by a telescoping drive shaft S0 connected at its rearward end to the pump through a universal joint 82, and provided at its forward end with a universal joint S4 and means adapting it to be connected to the rear power take-off of the tractor.

Bucket 34 is normally secured against pivotal movement relative to rearward frame section 6 by means of a latch mechanism including a shaft 86 disposedA just above said bucket and parallel to the axis thereof, the ends of said shaft being journalled in bearings S8 mounted on frameuprights 4S. Aftxed to said shaft are a of each of which is rotatably mounted a roller 92 which bears normally against the exterior surface of the cylinposition by the positioning of each of rollers 92 between a pair of substantially radially extending lugs 100 welded to the bucket. When the bucket is in its dumping position with respect to frame section 6, as in Fig. 6 and in dotted lines in Fig. 5, each of rollers 92 is disposed between a second pair of lugs 102 welded to the bucket. Lug pairs 100 and 102 are disposed approximately 90 deg. apart on the bucket. It will be seen in Figs. 4-6 that -the rear lug of each pair 100 has its outer edge bevelled as at 104, and that the forward lug of each pair 102 has its outer edge bevelled as at 106, so that as the bucket is pivoted from one position to the other, said bevelled edges act as ramps which cam rollers 92 outwardly from the bucket to allow said lugs to pass thereunder.

Rollers 92 may be elevated from between lugs 100 or 102, thereby releasing the bucket for pivotal movement, by turning shaft 86 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 4-6. This is accomplished by means of a crank arm 108 fixed to said shaft, the outer end of said crank-arm being connected by link 110 with the outer end of a crank arm 112 afixed to a sleeve 114 rotatably mounted on cross-bar 52. A second crank arm 116 affixed to said sleeve has a rope 118 tied to the outer end thereof. Said rope extends forwardly through a guide ring 120 affixed to the upper end of pump standard 70, and thence forwardly to a position convenient to the tractor operator. A momentary pull on said rope will actuate the crank and link mechanism just described to lift rollers 92 clear of lugs 100 or 102.

The operation of the scoop is substantially as follows: Assuming that the parts have the position shown in Figs. l-3, with latch rollers 92 engaged in lugs 100 and with bottom wall 3S of the bucket horizontal and at ground level, it will be apparent that earth will enter the bucket whenever the scoop is drawn forwardly. This position is intended primarily for loading loose earth and not for digging, since the scoop bottom 38 rests on the ground and the blade 40 has a zero angle of' attack to the ground. When it is desired to dig into solid earth, control lever 74 is operated to cause pump 68 to deliver fluid to the upper ends of cylinders 60, whereby piston rods 54 are retracted. This elevates wheels 32 above the ground, as indicated in Fig. 4, causing blade 40 to be inclined at a positive angle 'of attack to the ground as shown, and causing the entire weight of the scoop to be supported by said blade, whereby the blade is forced into the ground as the scoop is moved forwardly.

When the scoop is filled, fluid is fed to the lower ends of cylinders 60, whereby piston rods 54 are extended. During this movement, wheels 32 are first lowered into engagement with the ground, and frame pivot 24 is then buckled upwardly, thereby lifting the scoop well above the ground, as shown in Fig. 5. It will also be noted that as the bucket is raised, the open front thereof is tilted toward the top, due to the tilting of frame section 6 to which the bucket is latched, thereby tending to prevent spillage of earth from the bucket. This is the load-transporting position of the bucket, and it will be seen that due to the high lift of the bucket, it may be transported easily even over very rough terrain.

When it is desired to dump the load, the operator simply pulls momentarily on rope 11S to elevate latch rollers 92 clear of lugs 100, whereupon the bucket will swing by gravity to the dumping position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. Gravity will urge the bucket to this position since, due to the extension forwardly of bottom wall 38 of the bucket, a greater proportion of the earth carried in the bucket will be disposed forwardly of pivots 24 than rearwardly therefrom. Actually, the overbalancing of the load to the front of the bucket will positively urge the bucket through only a portion of its dumping arc, but the bucket continues to its full dumping position by its own inertia or free-swinging movement, whereupon latch rollers 92 are engaged between lugs 102, as best shown in Fig. 6.

When it is desired to return the bucket to its digging position, the operator pulls on rope 118 to release rollers 92 from lugs 102, whereupon the bucket returns to the solid line position of Fig. 5 due to the fact that counterbalancing bar 46 is of sufficient mass to urge the bucket to this position. The final portion of this movement also may be accomplished by the inertia of the swinging bucket. In other words, bar 46 so shifts the center of gravity of the bucket that said bucket is caused by gravity to swing toward its digging position when empty, but is not sufiiciently heavy to counteract the tendency 0f the bucket to swing to its dumping position when loaded. It will be noted also that when the bucket is latched in its dumping position, it may be lowered by retracting piston rods 60 until blade 40 engages the ground as shown in Fig. 6. The piston rods may be still further retracted to lift wheels 32 clear of the ground and thereby throw the weight of the entire device on the blade. In this position the blade acts as a scraper for levelling or planing the ground.

. While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An earth digging scoop comprising a frame adapted to be drawn by a tractor, a bucket pivoted in said frame on a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said frame, said frame including means whereby said bucket may be raised and lowered to and from the ground and said bucket having a normal digging position in which it opens forwardly and being pivotally movable to a dumping position in which it opens downwardly, the center of gravity of said bucket being so disposed relative to the pivotal axis thereof that when empty said bucket is urged by gravity toward its digging position, and when loaded is urged by gravity toward its dumping position, and latch members carried by said frame and operable to secure said bucket releasably in said digging position.

2. An earth digging scoop as recited in claim l with the addition of latch means carried by said frame and operable to secure said bucket releasably in said dumping position.

3. An earth digging scoop as recited in claim l wherein said bucket is provided with a bottom wall which extends sufiiciently forwardly of the pivotal axis of the bucket that the center of gravity of said bucket when loaded is disposed forwardly of said pivotal axis, whereby the bucket is urged toward its dumping position, and wherein a counterweight is secured to said bucket rearwardly of the pivotal axis thereof, whereby said bucket when empty is urged toward its digging position.

4. An earth digging scoop as recit-ed in claim l wherein the center of gravity of said bucket is disposed rearwardly of the pivotal axis thereof, whereby when empty said bucket vis urged by gravity toward its digging position, and wherein the load-supporting bottom wall of said bucket is extended sufficiently forwardly from said pivotal axis that the center of gravity of a load of earth supported thereby is disposed forwardly of said pivotal axis to a suicient degree sufficient to overcome the counter-torque excited by the unloaded center of gravity of the bucket, whereby said bucket is urged toward its dumping position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stewart Apr. 14, 1885 Sturgis Oct. 28, 1885 

